No. 164: Boring the Wall to Borrow Light
"No. 164: Boring the Wall to Borrow Light" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570). Red moves first and wins in 6 moves; the key first move is H5+3. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.
Solve this puzzle on ChessZing →
Free, in the browser, no download.
Pieces on the board
Red has a General, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons. Black has a General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, a Horse, a Cannon, a Soldier.
Solution move by move
- 1. Red H5+3Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Horse.
What to watch out for1. Black C4=71. Black C4=7 - 2. Red R1=4Why it works
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for2. Black C7=62. Black C7=6 - 3. Red R4+2Why it works
- Wins material: takes the Cannon.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black A5+63. Black A5+6 - 4. Red R7=4Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for- Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
4. Black K6+14. Black K6+1 - 5. Red C8=4Why it works
- Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
- Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for5. Black A6-55. Black A6-5 - 6. Red C5=4Why it works
- Ends the game: no legal reply remains.
What to watch out for6. Red C5=4
Variations and alternative defences
What if Black defends differently? The alternatives below were checked with the rules engine; lines marked with a mating move lose at once, the others are worth trying on the analysis board.
- 1. Black C4=7
- If Black plays K6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R1+4. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=4. Try it on the board
- 2. Black C7=6
- If Black plays A5+6 instead: Red mates immediately with R4+2. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C8+3. Try it on the board
- 3. Black A5+6
- If Black plays K6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with C8+3. Try it on the board
Final position
Red wins after 6 moves. The General has no legal move.
Questions about this puzzle
Who moves first in "No. 164: Boring the Wall to Borrow Light"?
Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570).
How many moves does the solution take?
6 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.
What is the key move?
The first move H5+3 starts the combination. Everything that follows depends on it.
Can I play this position myself?
Yes. Open it on ChessZing, where the board checks your moves and shows the solution if you get stuck.
Nearby puzzles
- No. 161: Avoid Harm, Preserve Oneself
- No. 162: Zhu Yun Breaks the Railing
- No. 163: Choosing Generals, Drilling Troops
- No. 165: Meet Water, Build a Bridge
- No. 166: Toppling the Enemy State at Once
- No. 167: Victory and Conquered Land
More from Elegant Pastimes (Shiqing Yaqu, 1570) →
Languages: English · Tiếng Việt · 简体中文 · 繁體中文